I can tell you that the fires have been reasonably extensive, but despite the army of my techs doing repairs to the Copper Network out that way, I haven't been able to describe to them the sort of damage we'd be looking for, as climbers. They don't seem to get it.

That map (2 days old now), indicates the fires encroaching the major climbing areas, and this report from NSW Rural Fire Service, indicates they (my guess), likely back-burnt on the Crater Bluff side of Needle Mtn to protect the infrastructure there...

More than 150 firefighters are fighting a 45,000 hectare bush fire in the Warrumbungle National Park to the west of Coonabarabran. A Total Fire Ban has been declared for tomorrow due to very high fire danger in the area.

Current Situation

There is a bush fire burning in the Bugaldie area, 1km south of Bugaldie village, 8km west of Coonabarabran and 4km south of Siding Spring.

The fire is burning close to rural properties in the Bingie Grumble Road and Carrington Lane areas. People in these areas must remain vigilant and stay up to date with the changing fire conditions.

Strong winds and a very high fire danger is forecast for the area, increasing the risk to rural properties south-east of the fire. A Total Fire Ban has been declared for tomorrow.

Firefighters are continuing to work to strengthen containment lines in the south eastern part of the fire between Timor Road and Baradine Road to protect isolated properties on the outskirts of Coonabarabran.

The Needle Mountain Communication Facility has been protected by significant backburning in the area.

Baradine Road and the Newell Highway are both open. Timor Road is open with restricted access.

Currently 51 properties, 113 outbuildings, livestock and farm machinery have been destroyed. This number is likely to change as crews work through the damage.

On 18/01/2013 sbm wrote:>You can see a live version of that map at http://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/dsp_content.cfm?cat_id=683>and also see the fire overlaid on a satellite view instead. (Zoom in on>the 'Wambelong WNP' incident, it's the only yellow icon)>>...yeah, it looks like a lot of the Warrumbungles have been torched.

Thanks for pointing that out sbm.
When I checked that site and clicked that icon, I failed to go the next step to the map, as I thought it only a verbal report.
You are right, re the burnt area, as it appears the only climbing location not burnt (so far), is Tonduron Spire in the south of the NP.

On 18/01/2013 wallwombat wrote:>I'll miss Balor Hut but I suppose the loss of an old climber's hut pales>in significance compared to the 51 properties destroyed by the fire.

The same thought came to me, though maybe it was spared. Fires can be capricious, and previous bushfires have spared it, as it seems to be in a relatively sheltered spot when it comes to fire induced wind updraughts? Back in about 1990 the dunny had to be rebuilt though!
;-)

That also has the repercussion of the loss of some original old guides to climbing in the NP that were available for visiting climbers to peruse.
A couple I remember using there were the SRC 1973 1st edition, and the Joe Friend 1976 edition; ... not that they can't be replaced if they are so inclined, when the centre is rebuilt.

Apart from the fascinating history angle, one day it would be great to see a modern Mentz/Tempest, or Carter style, comprehensive guide to that place, assuming someone has enough time and love for the labour involved, to ever do it.

On 12/06/2013 Drake wrote:>Has anyone been climbing in the warrumbungles since the fires? The park>is now open in a limited capacity (see http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/NationalParks/par>FireClosure.aspx?id=N0035). >>Can some of the climbing areas be accessed from the open walking tracks:>Belougerie Split Rock, Burbie Canyon, Mount Exmouth and Whitegum Lookout>Walk?

The link was obscure, but I persisted sniffing about that site and got;

>Warrumbungle National Park
Fires, floods and park closures

Last update: 17/5/2013 4:00PM

Closed areas

Closure

Following the recent bushfire Warrumbungle National Park is open in a limited capacity only.

Park entry and camping use fees are currently waived until further notice.

John Renshaw Parkway is open.

For more information please contact the Coonabarabran Area Office on 02 6842 1311.

The better climbing on the longer routes is away from the limited open tracks listed above...
Other options could be Timor Rock at east end of park (climbs up to three pitches in length), with short easy access; ... or Mt Tonduron in the south of the park, with slightly longer (but harder), routes involved, after a scrub bash to get there, as it was always more a bushwalker destination than a manicured track affair.

>The better climbing on the longer routes is away from the limited open>tracks listed above...>Other options could be Timor Rock at east end of park (climbs up to three>pitches in length), with short easy access; ... or Mt Tonduron in the south>of the park,

Of course I was hoping to climb the easy/moderate classics (Cornerstone Rib, Flight of the Phoenix, Elijah), but some of the routes on Mt Tonduron look interesting as well. Thanks for the info; the bungles are big, and it's hard (for me) to tell what climbing might be accessible.

Hi Drake - i actually rang the park yesterday because I was thinking about stopping off on the way to Qld. The track to Balor Hut and beyond, which is what you access Cornerstone Rib etc from is officially closed. I imagine there's not a lot of pressure on the parks service to open it up again, because it's hardly the most popular park in the state (unlike say with the Grampians, where a whole stack of general tourists, residents and climbers would have been asking about it constantly). So maybe it is worth send a few emails saying there are people who would like to be able to access the park again and how are the rehab efforts going?

On 12/06/2013 Drake wrote:>Of course I was hoping to climb the easy/moderate classics (Cornerstone>Rib, Flight of the Phoenix, Elijah), but some of the routes on Mt Tonduron>look interesting as well. Thanks for the info; the bungles are big, and>it's hard (for me) to tell what climbing might be accessible.

The routes you mention are all 'beyond' the Grand High Tops Walking Track - actually a loop track (closed according to Wendy's post), that goes past Balor Hut.

It might be worth contacting someone in the climbing sector within the Coonabarabran Bushwalking Club* regarding 'potential access', as when I used to climb with them (early '90's), many places were accessed by bushwalking in from neighbouring (private) properties, etc.

(*Sorry, I dont have a current link for CBC).

Close to that part of the world and not burnt out recently, Mt Kaputar, offers good climbing if it hasn't all been retroed yet...